Did you get out over the weekend or one afternoon and do any fishing?

Last Thursday, I went up to Colonial Beach to help my daughter Tiffany finish getting moved. We had a lot of good laughs before I headed back home to get everything straight. Friday, I made an early morning trip over to Wilna Pond to search for some of those big bass that live there. But things just weren’t meant to be.

I launched and started to fish around the pier to see if any big girls were hiding there. But as I started to move away, the battery for my trolling motor died. Somebody forgot to charge it after the last time out. I paddled back in and loaded it back up.

Then, mishap number two happened. Seems like I had an almost-flat tire. I decided to get to the main road and called my brother Bill to see if he would bring my portable air pump, which I had just taken out of the truck Thursday afternoon.

Yes, I pumped it up, but I had a hole in the tire that I did not feel comfortable plugging. We filled it, and I drove home so I could put the spare tire on. Now, I will be getting two new tires Monday from Double A Tires.

Saturday, I had planned to go early over to Wilna and try it again. My buddy Tim Gray came over for coffee, and I checked to see how his doctor appointment went Friday, which was good. I asked if they gave him the special medicine so he could catch bass. It’s great to be able to joke with him about anything.

I got out fairly early and started off missing something that felt big. I continued to fish around, making a cast up around a laydown. My Texas-rigged creature bait hit bottom, and I let it sit for a few seconds before I hopped it and repeated it again. Just as I made it hop, I felt the strike as a bass picked it up to eat. I set the hook hard, and my rod bent over.

What a fight! She made a run away from me, keeping the rod bent over and trying to pull line off the reel. And then a run straight back at me as I took up line just as fast as I could. Under the boat she went forcing me to stick my rod out away from the boat to keep my line from rubbing.

I held firm and grabbed the net, waiting for her to come back out. She did, but ran toward the back of the boat and then started back along the side. I steadied the rod and readied the net, waiting for her to come to the surface. She came almost up but dove back down, and then with a lift, back to the surface she came.

I slipped my net under her and safely into it. What a joy it was. The battle was over, and I had won. A quick weigh—4.69 pounds—a few pictures, and with a thank you I released her back to continue to grow and get bigger.

I continued to fish around, hitting up the pads in the back, but could not find any bass hiding there. I did find some smaller bass hiding around as I worked my way back out toward the front.

I slipped back over to the area where I had caught the last big one, just to see if maybe some big girl had moved back in. The wind was still blowing pretty good, but I didn’t get anything on my soft plastic. I switched over to my spinnerbait, hoping it would draw another strike.

I tried a few different angles around the area when suddenly my bait stopped for a second as another bass came up and hit it hard. I pulled back hard, setting the hook into something big. My rod bent over and line pulled off the reel before the fight began.

I had high hopes it was one of those big monster females, and it felt like it very well could be. I was ready, and when it came up beside the boat, my net awaited her.

What a beautiful bass! I slipped her onto my scales and was excited to see it settle at 5.19 pounds and 21 inches long. A few pictures, then once again I slipped her back into the water to watch her swim off to continue to grow and hopefully become someone’s personal best.

I continued to fish back to the front, finding a few smaller bass that had me just as excited as the big ones do. To me, there is nothing like finding them no matter the size. You never know what size they will be until you set the hook. And some of the smaller ones fight harder than the big ones.

I finally called it a day and headed home so I could set up the coffee for church Sunday and then go to a birthday party for my grandson Sebastian after church to round out my weekend.

Around the Pond

In the local ponds, the spawn may not be over, but a lot of those big bass that have finished are now moving just off the shallows looking to feed up and replenish the energy spent during the spawn. While there are still bass up shallow to be caught, try working the first drop-off into the deeper water.

A spinnerbait is a great choice. Slow-roll it along the bottom and just over the top of any emerging grass. It is especially productive on windy days, and it gives off its flash like baitfish. Work around and in the lily pads with soft plastics, a jig, and a topwater frog.

A topwater bait like a buzzbait or a walking bait is great over laydowns and grass. A square-billed crankbait is another great choice. And don’t pass up throwing a jerkbait.

River Action

In the Rappahannock River, things are starting to heat up. Big red drum are being caught around the mouth of the Bay and will be moving up and into the river. Stripers are being caught in the river. Make sure to check the regulations as to when the season opens and the slot size.

Decent-size croaker and some fair-sized spot are being reported below Tappahannock, and bigger groups down closer to the mouth of the river. Some good-sized speckled trout are also being caught in the lower sections, but the season is still closed. The catfish bite has been good around the Downing Bridge and upriver to the Fredericksburg area.

Kid’s Fishing Day

The Kid’s Fishing Day is right around the corner. We will have the first event June 6, at the Wilna Pond. The following Saturday, June 13, we will host one at the Port Royal town fishing pier. It is open to kids ages 4–15, and because of limited space, reservations are requested. You can sign up on the website www.rwrfriends.org, by email at fishing@rwrfriends.org, or by calling 804-250-6528. All the fishing equipment will be provided along with free hot dogs and drinks.

Safety in Mind

The weather is warming up, but we need rain bad. Make sure to think safety first with any fires. April was the sixth driest month on record. Water levels are dropping and create new hazards in the river.

Make sure to wear your life jacket, especially when the big motor is engaged. Wear it always when on a jet ski, in a canoe, or in a kayak. Hhave your kill switch attached to you life jacket if you’re the operator.

Make sure to leave a float/bank plan with someone and let them know if you make any changes. And check your safety equipment at least monthly. Think safety first, have fun, and live to fish another day.

If you get to go fishing one afternoon, evening, or this coming weekend, take some pictures of your catch or the kids having fun. I want to see them and share them here for everyone to see just how beautiful the Northern Neck is for fishing. Send your pictures, fishing reports, questions, or comments to FishingNNK@gmail.com. This column is about you and for you and fishing in the Northern Neck. Remember: “Do yourself a favor, take a kid fishing.” Make a memory to last a lifetime.